Mobile communication system, detection server, control apparatus, mobile communication apparatus, network optimizing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium having program stored thereon

ABSTRACT

An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication system, a detection server, a control apparatus, a mobile communication apparatus, a network optimizing method, and a program which can execute optimization of network processing based on a change of use characteristics. A mobile communication system according to the present invention includes: a detection server that detects a characteristics change of a mobile communication apparatus based on an event notice transmitted from the mobile communication apparatus; and a control apparatus that determines control contents related to the mobile communication apparatus based on the characteristics change of the mobile communication apparatus detected by the detection server, and sets the determined control contents to a processing node that executes data transfer processing between the mobile communication apparatus and another mobile communication apparatus or control processing related to the data transfer processing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system whichdetermines control contents based on event contents notificationstransmitted from a mobile communication apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, a method of optimizing a setting of each processingnode which makes up a mobile communication system has been demanded.3GPP proposes a method of optimizing network processing according to usecharacteristics of a mobile communication terminal (Non-PatentLiterature 1). For example, network processing may be executed withrespect to a terminal located by being fixed to a specific location toreduce control processing related to a move. More specifically, aninterval at which the terminal executes position registration may be setlonger than a predetermined time. Furthermore, when a mobilecommunication terminal is a terminal which allows a delay, networkprocessing may be executed to transmit data to the mobile terminal bycontrolling a communication time and avoiding a timing at which a datatransmission/reception amount comes to a peak.

Furthermore, 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) is discussing anetwork system configuration as illustrated in FIG. 19 to execute theabove network processing (Non-Patent Literature 2). The network systemin FIG. 19 includes a UE (User Equipment) 101, a RAN (Radio AccessNetwork) 102, a SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) 103, a GGSN (GatewayGPRS Support Node) 104, a HLR (Home Location Register) 105, a MTC-IWF(Machine Type Communication-Inter Working Function) 106, a CDF (ChargingData Function) 107, a SMS-SC (Short Message Service-Service Center) 108,a MTC Server 109 and a MTC Application 110. The network system obtainedby adding the MTC-IW 106, the CDF 107, the SMS-SC 108, the MTC Server109 and the MTC Application 110 to a general mobile communication systemin which the UE 101, the RAN 102, the SGSN 103, the GGSN 104 and the HLR105 are used to realize a method of optimizing network processingaccording to use characteristics of a mobile communication terminal isbeing discussed.

CITATION LIST Non Patent Literature

-   NPL 1: 3GPP TS 22.368 V11.3.0 (2011-09) 3rd Generation Partnership    Project; Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects;    Service requirements for Machine-Type Communications (MTC); Stage 1    (Release 11)-   NPL 2: 3GPP TR 23.888 V1.5.0 (2011-10) 3rd Generation Partnership    Project; Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects;    System Improvements for Machine-Type Communications; (Release 11)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, as described above, network processing is optimized targetingat a mobile terminal whose use characteristics are fixed. For example,whether the mobile terminal is a terminal located by being fixed to aspecific location or a terminal which allows a delay is determined usingservice information of the terminal and terminal information determinedin advance. Currently, optimizing the network processing as describedabove and, in addition, executing optimization of network processingtargeting at a mobile terminal whose use characteristics change is beingdemanded. Hence, executing optimization of network processing usinginformation other than service information which generally changes lessfrequently is demanded.

To solve such a problem, an object of the present invention is toprovide a mobile communication system, a detection server, a controlapparatus, a mobile communication apparatus, a network optimizingmethod, and a program which can execute optimization of networkprocessing based on a change of use characteristics.

Solution to Problem

A mobile communication system according to a first aspect of the presentinvention includes: a detection server that detects a characteristicschange of a mobile communication apparatus based on an event noticetransmitted from the mobile communication apparatus; and a controlapparatus that determines control contents related to the mobilecommunication apparatus based on the characteristics change of themobile communication apparatus detected by the detection server, andsets the determined control contents to a processing node that executesdata transfer processing between the mobile communication apparatus andanother mobile communication apparatus or control processing related tothe data transfer processing.

A detection server according to a second aspect of the present inventionincludes: detecting means for detecting a characteristics change of amobile communication apparatus based on an event notice transmitted fromthe mobile communication apparatus; and notifying means for transmittinga notification about the detected characteristics change to a controlapparatus that determines control contents related to the mobilecommunication apparatus based on the characteristics change of themobile communication apparatus, and sets the determined control contentsto a processing node that executes data transfer processing between themobile communication apparatus and another mobile communicationapparatus or control processing related to the data transfer processing.

A control apparatus according to a third aspect of the present inventionincludes: control means for receiving a characteristics change of amobile communication apparatus detected based on an event noticetransmitted from the mobile communication apparatus, and determiningcontrol contents related to the mobile communication apparatus based onthe characteristics change; and notifying means for transmitting anotification about the determined control contents to a processing nodethat executes data transfer processing between the mobile communicationapparatus and another mobile communication apparatus or controlprocessing related to the data transfer processing.

A mobile communication apparatus according to a fourth aspect of thepresent invention includes: detecting means for detecting acharacteristics change of a mobile communication apparatus based on anevent notice transmitted from the mobile communication apparatus; andnotifying means for transmitting a notification about the detectedcharacteristics change to a control apparatus that determines controlcontents related to the mobile communication apparatus based on thecharacteristics change of the mobile communication apparatus, and setsthe determined control contents to a processing node that executes datatransfer processing between the mobile communication apparatus andanother mobile communication apparatus or control processing related tothe data transfer processing.

A network optimizing method according to a fifth aspect of the presentinvention includes: detecting a characteristics change of a mobilecommunication apparatus based on an event notice transmitted from themobile communication apparatus; determining control contents related tothe mobile communication apparatus based on the detected characteristicschange of the mobile communication apparatus; and setting the determinedcontrol contents to a processing node that executes data transferprocessing between the mobile communication apparatus and another mobilecommunication apparatus or control processing related to the datatransfer processing.

A program causing a computer to execute according to a sixth aspects ofthe present invention includes: a step of detecting a characteristicschange of a mobile communication apparatus based on an event noticetransmitted from the mobile communication apparatus; and a step oftransmitting a notification about the detected characteristics change toa control apparatus that determines control contents related to themobile communication apparatus based on the characteristics change ofthe mobile communication apparatus, and sets the determined controlcontents to a processing node that executes data transfer processingbetween the mobile communication apparatus and another mobilecommunication apparatus or control processing related to the datatransfer processing.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention can provide a mobile communication system, adetection server, a control apparatus, a mobile communication apparatus,and a network optimizing method which can execute optimization ofnetwork processing based on a change of use characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a mobile communication systemaccording to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a detection server according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a characteristics change detectingDB according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a control apparatus according tothe first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a NW control policy DB according tothe first embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sequence illustrating a flow of processing ofregistering a mobile terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a sequence illustrating a flow of processing ofsetting a NW control policy according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a detection server according to asecond embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a terminal specific detection itemDB according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a sequence illustrating a flow of processing ofregistering a mobile terminal according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a flow of processing of detecting acharacteristics change in the detection server according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a mobile communication systemaccording to a third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a mobility management entityaccording to the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates a sequence illustrating a flow of processing ofsetting a NW control policy according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of a mobile communication systemaccording to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of a mobile communication systemaccording to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of a mobile terminal according to thefifth embodiment.

FIG. 18 illustrates a sequence illustrating a flow of processing ofsetting a NW control policy according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 19 illustrates a network system configuration discussed in 3GPP.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings. A configuration example of a mobilecommunication system according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The mobilecommunication system in FIG. 1 has a detection server 40, a controlapparatus 30 and a processing node 20. A mobile terminal 10 communicateswith other mobile terminals and a server apparatus through the mobilecommunication system. Wireless communication is used for communicationbetween the mobile terminal 10 and the mobile communication system. Theprocessing node 20 may be, for example, a radio base station 21 or amobility management entity 22. The mobility management entity 22 and thecontrol apparatus 30 make up a core network 50 managed by a mobilecommunication business operator.

The mobile terminal 10 may be a mobile telephone terminal, a smartphoneterminal or a notebook personal computer, or may be transporting meanssuch as a car or a train in which a communication function is installedor a machine such as a watch which a user puts on and in which acommunication function is installed. Alternatively, the mobile terminal10 may be an apparatus which less frequently moves such as an automaticvending machine in which a communication function is installed.

The detection server 40 detects a characteristics change of a mobilecommunication apparatus based on an event notice transmitted from themobile terminal 10. The detection server 40 may be arranged in the corenetwork 50 managed by the mobile communication business operator, or maybe arranged outside the core network 50 to be managed by a third partyother than the mobile communication business operator.

An event notice may be, for example, information of a user operation ofthe mobile terminal 10 or sensor information detected by the mobileterminal 10. When, for example, the mobile terminal 10 is a car, theoperation information may be information indicating that the user hasturned on or off an engine of the car. Alternatively, the operationinformation may be information indicating that the user has started orstopped operating a car navigation system installed in the car orinformation indicating a position set as a destination. Alternatively,the operation information may be information indicating that the userhas activated a moving image browsing software installed in a mobiletelephone terminal. The sensor information may be information obtainedby detecting environment information of the surroundings or informationrelated to a temperature of the surroundings when, for example, atemperature sensor is mounted on a mobile telephone terminal.Furthermore, the sensor information may be velocity information of amobile telephone when, for example, an acceleration sensor is mounted ona mobile telephone terminal.

A characteristics change may be, for example, a behavior change of themobile terminal 10 and a change of a communication situation of themobile terminal 10. When, for example, the mobile terminal 10 is a carand an event notice transmitted from the mobile terminal 10 notifiesthat an engine is turned off, the detection server 40 may detect abehavior change indicating that the car has stopped moving. Furthermore,when notified that the engine is turned on, the detection server 40 maydetect a behavior change indicating that the car has started moving.When notification of an event indicating that the user has activated themoving image browsing software of the mobile telephone terminal istransmitted, the detection server 40 may detect a change of acommunication situation indicating that the user is going to executebroadband communication from now. Furthermore, when notification of anevent indicating that the user has performed an operation of starting avoice call of the mobile telephone terminal is transmitted, thedetection server 40 may detect a change of a communication situationindicating that the user is going to execute narrowband communicationfrom now.

As described above, the detection server 40 receives an event notice,and extracts a characteristics change of the mobile terminal 10corresponding to the received event notice.

The control apparatus 30 determines control contents in the mobileterminal 10 based on the characteristics change of the mobile terminal10 detected by the detection server 40, and sets the determined controlcontents to the processing node 20 which executes data transferprocessing between the mobile terminal 10 and another mobile terminal orcontrol processing related to data transfer.

The control contents in the mobile terminal 10 may be, for example,control of changing a paging area of the mobile terminal 10 or controlof allocating a communication band to the mobile terminal 10. When, forexample, the detection server 40 detects a characteristics changeindicating that the mobile terminal 10 has stopped, the controlapparatus 30 may perform control to narrow the paging area of the mobileterminal 10 to a cell size. A paging area refers to an area for callingthe mobile terminal 10 when, for example, processing of receiving a callat the mobile terminal 10 is executed. When the mobile terminal 10stops, it is possible to narrow a call range and, consequently, narrowthe paging area to a cell area in which the mobile terminal 10 existsand which is configured by a base station. Furthermore, when detecting acharacteristics change indicating that the mobile terminal 10 hasstarted to move, the control apparatus 30 may perform control to widenthe paging area of the mobile terminal 10 in units of prefectures toenable the mobile terminal 10 to be reliably called.

In another example, when the detection server 40 detects acharacteristics change indicating that the mobile terminal 10 hasexecuted broadband communication, the control apparatus 30 may performcontrol to secure, for example, 10 Mbps as a bandwidth to be allocatedto the mobile terminal 10. Furthermore, when the detection server 40detects a characteristics change indicating that the mobile terminal 10has executed narrowband communication, the control apparatus 30 mayperform control to secure, for example, 1 Mbps as a bandwidth to beallocated to the mobile terminal 10.

The processing node which executes data transfer processing between themobile terminal 10 and another mobile terminal may be, for example, theradio base station 21 or a switch (not illustrated). The processing nodewhich executes control processing related to data transfer between themobile terminal 10 and another mobile terminal may be, for example, themobility management entity (MME) 22 which executes movement control ofthe mobile terminal 10 or a subscriber information server (HLR or HSS:Home Subscriber Server).

As described above, by using the mobile communication system in FIG. 1,the detection server 40 connected to the core network 50 can detect acharacteristics change of the mobile terminal 10 based on an eventnotice transmitted from the mobile terminal 10. Furthermore, the controlapparatus 30 arranged in the core network 50 can change contents to beset to the processing node 20 per mobile terminal according to thedetected characteristics change. Consequently, it is possible toconfigure a network according to characteristics of each mobileterminal, and adequately distribute network resources or radioresources.

Next, a configuration example of the detection server 40 according tothe first embodiment of the present invention will be descried withreference to FIG. 2. The detection server 40 has an interface 41, adetecting unit 42, a characteristics change detecting DB 43 and anotifying unit 44.

The interface 41 transmits and receives data to and from the controlapparatus 30. Although FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration where thedetection server 40 has one interface 41, the detection server 40 mayhave a plurality of interfaces to transmit and receive data to and fromthe radio base station 21 or the mobility management entity 22.

The detecting unit 42 receives an event notice transmitted from themobile terminal 10, through the interface 41. The detecting unit 42extracts a characteristics change corresponding to the received eventnotice using the characteristics change detecting database (DB) 43.Hereinafter, a configuration example of the characteristics changedetecting DB 43 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

The characteristics change detecting DB 43 in FIG. 3 associates andmanages information related to event contents for which a notificationis to be transmitted, and information related to characteristics changecontents. Furthermore, the characteristics change contents areclassified into a characteristics type and characteristics contentscorresponding to the characteristics type. For example, the eventcontents include engine stop, engine activation, navigation start,navigation stop, multimedia use start and multimedia use end. Eventcontents indicating engine stop are associated with a move as acharacteristic type and characteristics change contents indicating stopas contents. That is, when an event notification indicating that anengine has stopped is transmitted from the mobile terminal 10, thedetecting unit 42 detects that the mobile terminal 10 has stoppedmoving. When an event notification indicating that the engine has beenactivated is transmitted from the mobile terminal 10, the detecting unit42 detects that the mobile terminal 10 has started to move.

Furthermore, when an event notification indicating that navigation hasstarted is transmitted from the mobile terminal 10, the detecting unit42 detects that a communication interval such as an informationdistribution interval for the navigation system is five minutes. When anevent notification indicating that navigation has ended is transmittedfrom the mobile terminal 10, the detecting unit 42 detects that acommunication interval such as an information distribution interval forthe navigation system is one hour. Furthermore, when an eventnotification indicating that use of multimedia has started has beentransmitted from the mobile terminal 10, the detecting unit 42 detectsthat the mobile terminal 10 uses a communication band up to 10 Mbps.When an event notification indicating that use of the multimedia endshas been transmitted from the mobile terminal 10, the detecting unit 42detects that the mobile terminal 10 uses a communication band up to 1Mbps.

Referring back to FIG. 2, when the characteristics change correspondingto the event contents notification transmitted from the mobile terminal10 is extracted, the detecting unit 42 outputs the extractedcharacteristics change to the notifying unit 44.

The notifying unit 44 outputs the characteristics change output from thedetecting unit 42 to the control apparatus 30 through the interface 41.

Next, a configuration example of the control apparatus 30 according tothe first embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 4. The control apparatus 30 has interfaces 31 and 32,a control unit 33, a NW (Network) control policy DB 34 and a notifyingunit 35.

The interface 31 transmits and receives data to and from the detectionserver 40. The interface 32 transmits and receives data to and from theprocessing node 20. When the radio base station 21 and the mobilitymanagement entity 22 transmit and receive data using differentinterfaces, different interfaces may be used per apparatus of acommunicating party which transmits and receives data.

The control unit 33 receives information related to the characteristicschange of the mobile terminal 10 output from the detection server 40,through the interface 31. Furthermore, the control unit 33 may outputthe event notice received from the mobile terminal 10 through theinterface 32, to the detection server 40 through the interface 31. Thecontrol unit 33 extracts a NW control policy corresponding to thereceived characteristics change using the NW control policy DB 34.Hereinafter, a configuration example of the NW control policy DB 34 willbe described with reference to FIG. 5.

The NW control policy DB 34 in FIG. 5 associates and manages informationrelated to characteristics change contents and information related to aNW control policy. Information related to characteristics changecontents is the same as characteristics change contents in thecharacteristics change detecting DB 43. Information related to a NWcontrol policy is classified into a control type and control contentscorresponding to the control type.

When, for example, the detection server 40 transmits a notification ofinformation indicating a move as a characteristics type and move stop ascharacteristics change contents, the control unit 33 determines a NWcontrol policy of setting a size of a paging area related to the mobileterminal 10 to a cell size managed by one base station, and determines aposition registration interval of the mobile terminal 10 as every threehours. Furthermore, when the detection server 40 transmits anotification of information indicating a move as a characteristics typeand a move start as characteristics change contents, the control unit 33may determine a NW control policy of setting a size of a paging arearelated to the mobile terminal 10 to a size in units of prefectures, anddetermine a position registration interval of the mobile terminal 10 asevery ten minutes.

That is, when the mobile terminal 10 stops moving, a movement rangenarrows, so that it is also possible to set a narrow paging area.Consequently, it is possible to set only a cell area configured by onebase station to a paging area. In contrast with this, when the mobileterminal 10 starts moving, a movement range widens. Hence, it isnecessary to widen the paging area to enable the mobile terminal 10 tobe reliably called. Consequently, for example, all cell areas configuredby base stations in the same prefecture may be set to a paging area.Furthermore, when the mobile terminal 10 stops moving, the mobileterminal 10 is highly likely to exist in the same position registrationarea and therefore a long position registration interval may be set and,when the mobile terminal 10 starts moving, the mobile terminal 10 ishighly likely to exist in position registration areas which differ asthe time passes and therefore a short position registration interval maybe set.

Still further, when the detection server 40 transmits a notification ofinformation indicating a communication interval as a characteristicstype and five minutes as characteristics change contents, the controlunit 33 may set an interval at which the mobile terminal 10 operates ina normal power mode to five minutes and set an intermittent receptioninterval to 0.128 s. The mobile terminal 10 operates in a power-savingmode when the mobile terminal 10 does not operate in the normal powermode. When the detection server 10 transmits a notification ofinformation indicating a communication interval as a characteristicstype and one hour as characteristics change contents, the control unit33 may set an interval at which the mobile terminal 10 operates in thenormal power mode to one hour and set the intermittent receptioninterval to 128 s.

Furthermore, when the detection server 40 transmits a notification ofinformation indicating a communication band as a characteristics typeand up to 10 Mbps as characteristics change contents, the control unit33 may set to a maximum allowable band to be allocated to the mobileterminal 10 to 10 Mbps. When the detection server 40 transmits anotification of information indicating a communication band as acharacteristics type and up to 1 Mbps as characteristics changecontents, the control unit 33 may set a maximum allowable band to beallocated to the mobile terminal 10 to 1 Mbps.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the NW control policy extracted using the NWcontrol policy DB 34 is output to the notifying unit 35. The notifyingunit 35 outputs the NW control policy to the processing node 20 throughthe interface 32.

Next, a flow of processing of registering a mobile terminal which is acharacteristics change monitoring target, in the detection serveraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 6. First, the mobile terminal 10transmits a connection request to the radio base station 21 (S11). When,for example, the mobile terminal 10 is powered on, the connectionrequest is executed. A terminal identifier of the mobile terminal 10 isalso included in a message related to the connection request. The mobileterminal identifier is, for example, a model number, a telephone number,a MAC (Media Access Control) address or an IP (Internet Protocol)address allocated to the mobile terminal 10.

Next, when the connection request from the mobile terminal 10 isexecuted, NW connection processing is performed between the mobileterminal 10, the radio base station 21 and the mobility managemententity 22 (S12). The NW connection processing is directed to providing astate where communication can be executed between the mobile terminal 10and the radio base station 21 and is general processing in mobilecommunication, and therefore will not be described in detail.

Next, the mobility management entity 22 transmits a message related tothe connection request transmitted from the mobile terminal 10, to thecontrol apparatus 30 (S13). The terminal identifier of the mobileterminal 10 is also included in the message transmitted from themobility management entity 22 to the control apparatus 30 and themessage is related to the connection request.

Next, the control apparatus 30 transmits a characteristics changemonitoring request message to the detection server 40 to set the mobileterminal 10 to a characteristics change monitoring target terminal inthe detection server 40 (S14). Furthermore, the control apparatus 30includes the terminal identifier of the mobile terminal 10 in thecharacteristics change monitoring request message and transmits thecharacteristics change monitoring request message to clarify the mobileterminal 10 requested as a monitoring target terminal.

Next, the detection server 40 starts monitoring the characteristicschange of the mobile terminal 10 corresponding to the terminalidentifier set to the characteristics change monitoring request message(S15).

Next, a flow of processing of setting a NW control policy according tothe first embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 7. The processing of setting a NW control policy isexecuted after the processing of registering the mobile terminal in FIG.6.

First, the mobile terminal 10 transmits an event notice to the detectionserver 40 (S21). The event notice includes the terminal identifier ofthe mobile terminal 10 and contents of an event which occurs. Next, thedetection server 40 detects a characteristics change of the mobileterminal 10 corresponding to the event contents in the notification(S22). Subsequently, the detection server 40 transmits a notificationabout the detected characteristics change to the control apparatus 30(S23). The terminal identifier of the mobile terminal 10 is alsoincluded in the message in which a notification about thecharacteristics change is transmitted from the detection server 40 tothe control apparatus 30.

Next, the control apparatus 30 determines NW control policy contentscorresponding to the characteristics change which the detection server40 has transmitted a notification about (S24). Next, the controlapparatus 30 transmits a notification about the determined NW controlpolicy to the mobility management entity 22 (S25). The control apparatus30 also notifies the mobility management entity 22 about the NW controlpolicy and the mobile terminal identifier of the mobile terminal 10.

Next, the mobility management entity 22 changes the NW control policyrelated to the mobile terminal 10, to the NW control policy which thecontrol apparatus 30 has transmitted a notification about (S26).

In this regard, although a notification about the NW control policy istransmitted to the mobility management entity 22 in step S25, thenotification about the NW control policy may be transmitted to the radiobase station 21. For example, the control apparatus 30 may determine anotice destination according to a NW control policy by transmitting anotification about the NW control policy to the mobility managemententity 22 when a control type is a NW control policy related to a pagingarea, and by transmitting a notification about the NW control policy tothe radio base station 21 when the control type is a NW control policyrelated to a maximum allowable band. Furthermore, the control apparatus30 may transmit a notification about a NW control policy which needs tobe set, to another apparatus such as a switch which makes up the corenetwork in addition to the radio base station 21 and the mobilitymanagement entity 22.

As described above, by using the mobile communication system accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention, the detection server40 can receive information related to event contents from the mobileterminal 10. The detection server 40 can detect a characteristics changebased on information related to event contents, and the controlapparatus 30 can determine a NW control policy based on thecharacteristics change. Consequently, the mobile communication systemcan set an optimal NW control policy according to the characteristicschange in the mobile terminal 10.

Furthermore, although an example has been described in the firstembodiment of the present invention where the detection server detects acharacteristics change based on a notification of event contentstransmitted from the mobile terminal 10, the detection server 40 maydetect a characteristics change by analyzing contents of datatransmitted from the mobile terminal 10. The detection server 40 maydetect a characteristics change using data transmitted from the mobileterminal 10 as word information disclosed in a document such as anelectronic mail. Alternatively, the detection server 40 may detect acharacteristics change by analyzing video data and audio data.

Furthermore, the detection server 40, the control apparatus 30 and theprocessing node 20 may be associated with apparatuses discussed by 3GPPin FIG. 19 as follows. For example, the detection server 40 maycorrespond to a MTC Application 110, the control apparatus 30 maycorrespond to a MTC-IWF 106, a CDF/CGF (CDF/Charging Gateway Function)107, a SMS-SC/IP-SM-GW 108 and a MTC Server 109, and a processing nodemay correspond to a SGSN/MME 103, a GGSN/S-GW+P-GW 104 and a HLR/HSS105.

Second Embodiment

Next, a configuration example of a detection server 40 according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 8. The detection server 40 has an interface 41, adetecting unit 42, a characteristics change detecting DB 43, a notifyingunit 44 and a terminal specific detection item DB 45. The componentsother than the terminal specific detection item DB 45 are the same asthose in FIG. 2, and therefore will not be described in detail.

The terminal specific detection item DB 45 manages, per mobile terminal,items related to a characteristics change of a mobile terminal which thedetection server 40 needs to detect. Hereinafter, a configurationexample of the terminal specific detection item DB 45 according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 9.

The terminal specific detection item DB 45 associates and manages aterminal identifier and a characteristics type regarding which anotification needs to be transmitted. The terminal identifier may be,for example, a model number, a telephone number, a MAC address or an IPaddress allocated to each mobile terminal. In FIG. 8, for example,terminal identifiers identified as terminals 1 to 3 are managed. Thecharacteristics type which needs to be detected is the same as thecharacteristics type described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5.

In FIG. 8, move, a communication interval and a communication band areassociated as characteristics types with the terminal 1. A move isassociated as a characteristics type with the terminal 2, and acommunication interval and a communication band are associated ascharacteristics types with the terminal 3. That is, for example, onlythe characteristics change related to a move is detected for theterminal 2. Hence, in an example in FIG. 3, although the terminal 2detects a characteristics change and executes processing when anotification of event contents indicating engine stop or engineactivation is transmitted, the terminal 2 does not execute processing ofdetecting a characteristics change even when a notification of eventcontents indicating navigation start and end or multimedia use start anduse end is transmitted.

Next, a flow of processing of registering a mobile terminal which is acharacteristics change monitoring target, in a detection serveraccording to the second embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 10. Steps S31 to S33 and step S35 arethe same as steps S11 to 13 and step S15 in FIG. 6, and therefore willnot be described.

In step S34, a control apparatus 30 transmits a notification of acharacteristics change monitoring request message to the detectionserver 40. The characteristics change monitoring request includesinformation related to a terminal identifier of a mobile terminal 10 anda characteristics type which needs to be detected.

Although FIG. 10 illustrates an example where the mobile terminal 10transmits a notification of information related to a characteristicstype which needs to be detected, information related to acharacteristics type which needs to be detected may be acquired from asubscriber server which manages subscriber information of a plurality ofmobile terminals. In this case, information related to a characteristicstype which needs to be detected per mobile terminal is registered inadvance in the subscriber server.

Next, a flow of processing of detecting a characteristics change in thedetection server 40 according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention will be described with reference to FIG. 11. First, thedetecting unit 42 receives an event notice from the mobile terminal 10(S41). Next, the detecting unit 42 checks a terminal identifier includedin the event notice, and identifies a mobile terminal which is atransmission source of the event notice (S42). Next, the detecting unit42 determines whether or not event contents indicate the event relatedto the characteristics type managed by being associated with theidentified mobile terminal in the terminal specific detection item DB 45(S43). When determining that event contents regarding which anotification has been transmitted from the mobile terminal 10 indicatethe event related to the characteristics type managed in the terminalspecific detection item DB 45, the detecting unit 42 detects thecharacteristics change of the mobile terminal 10 using thecharacteristics change detecting DB 43 (S44). When determining that theevent contents regarding which a notification has been transmitted fromthe mobile terminal 10 do not indicate the event related to thecharacteristics type managed in the terminal specific detection item DB45, the detecting unit 42 finishes processing. In this regard, when theprocessing is finished, the detection server 40 may notify the controlapparatus 30 that the processing is finished. Alternatively, whendetermining that the event contents regarding which a notification hasbeen transmitted from the mobile terminal 10 do not indicate the eventrelated to the characteristics type managed in the terminal specificdetection item DB 45, an inquiry whether or not the characteristicschange related to the event contents regarding which a notification hasbeen transmitted becomes a monitoring target may be transmitted to themobile terminal 10.

Processing after the characteristics change is detected is the same asthe processing subsequent to step S23 in FIG. 7.

As described above, by using the mobile communication system accordingto the second embodiment of the present invention, the detection server40 can register in advance a characteristics change which needs to bedetected. When, for example, an automatic vending machine which is lessfrequently moved is used as a mobile terminal, it is not necessary todetect a characteristics change related to a move. In such a case, amove is not registered as a characteristics type which needs to bedetected. By so doing, it is possible to reduce a processing loadrelated to detection processing of the detection server 40.

Third Embodiment

Next, a configuration example of a mobile communication system accordingto the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Acontrol apparatus 30 and a processing node 20 have been described asphysically different apparatuses in the first and second embodiments. Inthis regard, a function executed in the control apparatus 30 may beinstalled in a mobility management entity 22 in the third embodiment.

A configuration example of the mobile communication system according tothe third embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 12. Hereinafter, differences between FIGS. 1 and 12will be mainly described. The mobile communication system in FIG. 12 hasa radio base station 21, a detection server 40 and a mobility managemententity 60.

Next, a configuration example of the mobility management entity 60according to the third embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 13. The mobility management entity 60has interfaces 61 and 62, a control unit 63, a NW control policy DB 64,a notifying unit 65 and a NW connection processing control unit 66.

The interface 61 transmits and receives data to and from the detectionserver 40. The interface 62 transmits and receives data to and from themobility management entity 22.

The control unit 63 receives information related to a characteristicschange of a mobile terminal 10 output from the detection server 40,through the interface 61. Furthermore, the control unit 63 may output anevent notice received from the mobile terminal 10 through the interface62, to the detection server 40 through the interface 61. The controlunit 63 extracts a NW control policy corresponding to the receivedcharacteristics change using the NW control policy DB 64. The NW controlpolicy DB 64 is the same as the configuration in FIG. 5, and thereforewill not be described in detail.

Furthermore, the control unit 63 performs processing of applying the NWcontrol policy extracted from the NW control policy DB 64, and settingthe NW control policy. Alternatively, the control unit 63 may transmit anotification of the NW control policy extracted from the NW controlpolicy DB 64, to the base station 21 through the notifying unit 65 andthe interface 62.

When a connection request from the mobile terminal 10 is executed, theNW connection processing control unit 66 controls NW connectionprocessing to provide a state where communication can be executedbetween the mobile terminal 10 and the radio base station 21. The NWconnection processing is general processing in mobile communication, andtherefore will not be described in detail.

Next, a flow of processing of setting a NW control policy according tothe third embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 14. Step S51 to step S53 in FIG. 14 are the same asstep S21 to step S23 in FIG. 7, and therefore will not be described indetail.

Next, the mobility management entity 60 determines NW control policycontents corresponding to the characteristics change regarding which anotification has been transmitted from the detection server 40 (S54).Next, the mobility management entity 60 changes the currently set NWcontrol policy to the NW control policy determined in step S54 (S55).

As described above, the mobility management entity 60 according to thethird embodiment of the present invention includes a function of thecontrol apparatus 30 in FIG. 1. Consequently, an interface between thecontrol apparatus 30 and the mobility management entity 22 in FIG. 1 isnot necessary. Furthermore, it is not necessary to transmit and receivedata between the control apparatus 30 and the mobility management entity22 in FIG. 7, so that it is possible to reduce a signal amount of theentire mobile communication system.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a configuration example of a mobile communication system accordingto the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 15. The mobile communication system in FIG. 15 definesan API between a control apparatus 30 and a detection server 40, andexecutes data communication between the control apparatus 30 and thedetection server 40. The detection server 40 executes data processingusing a function provided by the API.

A mobile communication business operator managing the mobilecommunication system provides the API between the control apparatus 30and the detection server 40, so that the detection server 40 can bemanaged by a third party other than the mobile communication businessoperator and can be arranged outside a core network 50. Consequently,the third party can operate and manage the detection server 40.

Fifth Embodiment

Next, a configuration example of a mobile communication system accordingto the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 16. An example will be described in the fifthembodiment where a function executed in a detection server 40 isinstalled in a mobile terminal 70. The mobile communication system inFIG. 16 has a control apparatus 30, a base station 21 and a mobilitymanagement entity 22. The mobile terminal 70 communicates with othermobile terminals and a server apparatus through the mobile communicationsystem. The mobile communication system in FIG. 16 differs from themobile communication system in FIG. 1 in that the detection server 40 isnot provided.

Next, a configuration example of the mobile terminal 70 according to thefifth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 17. The mobile terminal 70 has an interface 71, adetecting unit 72, a characteristics change detecting DB 73 and anotifying unit 74.

The detecting unit 72 detects event information. As described above, theevent information may be information of an operation of a user whooperates the mobile terminal 70 or sensor information detected by themobile terminal 70. The detecting unit 72 extracts a characteristicschange corresponding to the detected event information using thecharacteristics change detecting DB 73. A configuration of thecharacteristics change detecting DB 73 is the same as that in FIG. 3,and therefore will not be described in detail.

When extracting the characteristics change corresponding to the eventinformation detected by the detecting unit 72, the detecting unit 72outputs the extracted characteristics change to the notifying unit 74.

The notifying unit 74 outputs the characteristics change output from thedetecting unit 72, to the control apparatus 30 through the interface 71.

Next, a flow of processing of setting a NW control policy according tothe fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 18. First, the mobile terminal 70 detects eventinformation (S61). Next, the mobile terminal 70 detects acharacteristics change corresponding to the detected event contents(S62). Next, the mobile terminal 70 transmits a notification about thedetected characteristics change to the control apparatus 30 (63). Aterminal identifier of the mobile terminal 70 is also included in amessage in which a notification about the characteristics change istransmitted from the mobile terminal 70 to the control apparatus 30.

Step S64 to step S66 are the same as step S24 to stop S26 in FIG. 7, andtherefore will not be described in detail.

As described above, the mobile terminal 70 according to the fifthembodiment of the present invention includes a function realized in thedetection server. Consequently, it is possible to skip datacommunication between the mobile terminal 70 and the detection server,and reduce a signal amount of the entire mobile communication system.

Although the present invention has been described as a hardwareconfiguration in the above embodiments, the present invention is notlimited to these embodiments. The present invention can also be realizedby executing a computer program which causes a CPU (Central ProcessingUnit) to perform the processing of the detection server and the controlapparatus in FIG. 7 and the processing disclosed in FIG. 11.).

In the above example, the program can be supplied to the computer bybeing stored using various types of non-transitory computer readablemedia. The non-transitory computer readable media include various typesof tangible storage media. The non-transitory computer readable mediainclude, for example, magnetic recording media (e.g. flexible disks,magnetic tapes and hard disk drives), magnetooptical recording media(e.g. magnetooptical disks), CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory), CD-Rs, CD-R/Ws,and semiconductor memories (e.g. mask ROMs, PROMs (Programmable ROM),EPROMs (Erasable PROM), flash ROMs and RAMs (Random Access Memory)).Furthermore, the program may be supplied to the computer using varioustypes of transitory computer readable media. The transitory computerreadable media include, for example, electric signals, optical signalsand electromagnetic waves. The transitory computer readable media cansupply the program to the computer using wired communication channelssuch as electric wires and optical fibers or wireless communicationchannels.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the aboveembodiments, and can be adequately changed as long as the change doesnot deviate from the spirit of the invention.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to theembodiments above, the present invention is by no means limited to theabove embodiments. Various changes which one of ordinary skill in theart can understand can be applied to the configurations and the detailsof the present invention within the scope of the invention.

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2012-006345 filed on Jan. 16, 2012, the entire contents of which areincorporated by reference herein.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   10 MOBILE TERMINAL-   20 PROCESSING NODE-   21 RADIO BASE STATION-   22 MOBILITY MANAGEMENT ENTITY-   30 CONTROL APPARATUS-   31 INTERFACE-   32 INTERFACE-   33 CONTROL UNIT-   34 NW CONTROL POLICY DB-   35 NOTIFYING UNIT-   40 DETECTION SERVER-   41 INTERFACE-   42 DETECTING UNIT-   43 CHARACTERISTICS CHANGE DETECTING DB-   44 NOTIFYING UNIT-   45 TERMINAL SPECIFIC DETECTION ITEM DB-   50 CORE NETWORK-   60 MOBILITY MANAGEMENT ENTITY-   61 INTERFACE-   62 INTERFACE-   63 CONTROL UNIT-   64 NW CONTROL POLICY DB-   65 NOTIFYING UNIT-   66 NW CONNECTION PROCESSING CONTROL UNIT-   70 MOBILE TERMINAL-   71 INTERFACE-   72 DETECTING UNIT-   73 CHARACTERISTICS CHANGE DETECTING DB-   74 NOTIFYING UNIT

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A method performed by an application function in anexternal party, the method comprising: communicating with a first entitywhich is connected to the application function via ApplicationProgramming Interface (API); and sending a first parameter indicatingcommunication characteristics of a user equipment (UE) to the firstentity, wherein: a second parameter which is based on the firstparameter is transmitted from the first entity; the second parameter isreceived by a mobility management entity; and a third parameter, whichis an information of a state transition of a UE, is derived by themobility management entity based on the second parameter.
 21. The methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the first parameter indicates a mobilityof the UE.
 22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the thirdparameter is related to an idle period of the UE.
 23. The methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the third parameter is provided to aradio base station by the mobility management entity.
 24. A methodperformed by a first entity which is connected to an applicationfunction, in an external party, via Application Programming Interface(API), the method comprising: receiving a first parameter indicatingcommunication characteristics of a user equipment (UE) from theapplication function; and transmitting a second parameter which is basedon the first parameter, wherein: the second parameter is received by amobility management entity; and a third parameter, which is aninformation of a state transition of a UE, is derived by the mobilitymanagement entity based on the second parameter.
 25. The methodaccording to claim 24, wherein the first parameter indicates a mobilityof the UE.
 26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the thirdparameter is related to an idle period of the UE.
 27. The methodaccording to claim 24, wherein the third parameter is provided to aradio base station by the mobility management entity.
 28. A methodperformed by a mobility management entity, the method comprising:receiving a second parameter which is based on a first parameterindicating communication characteristics of a user equipment (UE), thesecond parameter sent from a first entity, wherein the first parameteris sent to the first entity from an application function, in an externalparty, which is connected to the first entity via an ApplicationProgramming Interface (API); and deriving a third parameter, which is aninformation of a state transition of a UE, based on the secondparameter.
 29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the firstparameter indicates a mobility of the UE.
 30. The method according toclaim 28, wherein the third parameter is related to an idle period ofthe UE.
 31. The method according to claim 28, wherein the thirdparameter is provided to a radio base station by the mobility managemententity.